Coin operated door lock



July 20, 1943. s. w. FRAZIER COIN OPERATED DOORLOCK Filed Jan. 30, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. SHERMAN l4. F/PAZ/EA fly Y ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1943. s. w. FRAZIER 2,324,920

COIN OPERATED DOORLOCK Patented July 20, 1943 .UNIT'ED STAT'ES PATENT OFFICE I I '2',324,9 20 ooIN OPERATED noon LOCK Sherman W.Frazir,;Washington, (3., assignor to The Nik-O-Lbk Company, Indianapolis,

lnd acorp'orationof Indiana V Application January so, 1943; Serial No. 474.171,

. 2 Claims. (c1. 19465) The present invention'relates to improvements character in coin operated doorlocks of the shown-'inPatent 1,534,977 granted to me and Arthur W. McCord, jointly, on April'21, 1925.

I According to that patent, a coin, deposited by .a person desiring to gain access to space norwhich the accumulation of coins may be removed .by an authorized person. If a person operating vthe lock by use of a coin does not exercise care in opening the door before permitting the knob to rotate in a direction counter to that predetermineddirection in which it has been turned to retract the bolt, use of the particular coin as a means of access to the spaceis lost If use of the coinis thus lost another coin must bede posited and the lock properly operated, otherwise theperson cannot gain access to the space, i

unless an attendant operates the lock by means of a key. This causes considerable dissatisfaction and annoyance;

'tion and the coin slotleft open when the door I controlled space isoccupied or the slot is closed by the shield when the space is notoccupied;

This is unsatisfactory causing embarrassment if -a second person by usexof a coin opens the door slot is closed and the space is not occupied. Y

- Another objectofthe'invention is to provide simple and eflicient-means to avoid this unsatisfactory operation of the shield, Without materially increasing the cost of manufacture.

Further objects ofthe invention are -to simplify the manufacture of the doorlock andrender same more eflicient.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part-of this specification and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the interior of r the lock casing, the flangeof the cover being in 7 One of the principalobjectsof the invention is to overcome these objectionable, features of the old. look, in a simple andefiicient manner, and yet make reasonably sure the coin will drop to the till after the door has been opened and during the closing of the door.

Also, according to the patent a movableshield is provided which in one position actsas a barrier, intended. to close the coin entrance of a coin chute of the lock and in another position is remote from the zone of thecoin slot. These positions may be aptly termed the closed position and the open position respectivelyo f the shield. The shield is moved to a closed position by'the operation of the outside knob when the lock bolt is withdrawn to gain access to the space, g

and is moved to an open positionby operation of the inside handle when a person is leaving the space. In the patent the'shield is yieldably held by an expansion coil spring in frictional contact with the inside face o'ft -he covei of the lock, which hasthe coin entrance slot. Usually this frictional contact'is ufiicient to hold the shield in the desired closed or openposition, but if'fthe door is slammed or' the parts become wor'nli or the coil spring becomesweak the shield is likely to be accidentallyv moved from its intended posiwith the bolt projected; n

section, and showing;the position of the parts Fig Zisa similar view sho-wing the position ot-the parts when the boltis retracted by use .of.a coinaand operationiof an outsideknob of the, doorlock. a

Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the position of. the parts when'the bolt is retracted by use of the inside knob of the doorlock. .Fig. 4 is an elevation. of the doorlock looking from the outside with a portion of the casing cover broken away and in section, showing the relative position'of the parts when the bolt is projected and the shield acting as a barrier for the coin chute. v

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on substantially the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of thedoorlock. 7

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional View showing .aportionof a ccmpai'tm'entwall, and keeper Figs. 8 and 9 areperspective, viewsof portions of .a coin chute.

,Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section ofcoin operated latch mechanism forming a part of the doorlock, with a coin in place for operation, of

the latch mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on substantially the line of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing 1 to the interior of the casing to remove themoney y from the till l5 therein. The casing is also provided with a coin opening 14 at its upper end, and with a lock escutcheon and lock 15. The casing is attached by screws or in any other suitable manner to the plate ii.

The plate I3 is formed approximately adjacent its middle with two inwardly projecting spindle bearings 11 and I8. In the spindle bearing l1 there is disposed a knob spindle H which pro- Qects out through the front of the door and to which a knob 23 is connected. Mounted in suitable guide lugs extending from the face of the plate I0 is a sliding bolt 2| which normally projects beyond the face of the plate, by an expan- I sion spring 23. The outer end of the bolt is bevelled at its extremity, as at '22. The spring 23 bears against the inner end portion of the bolt and against a plate 24 which is angular in cross section and attached to a lug 2S projecting from the plate by means of screws 26. 'Thus the bolt is normally urged to 'a projected position. This bolt, at its forward end, passes between guide lugs 23 to which is attached a plate 29. This bolt i transversely grooved at 30, the rear Wall of the groove being slightly rounded.

The knob spindle H! has formed with it or attached to it an approximately radially extending, upstanding arm 3| which extends up into the groove and across this groove. This arm as illustrated in Figure 8 is not recessed upon that face adjacent the extremity of the bolt as in the aforesaid patent, but may be a flat piece of strap or bar like material easily obtained and worked upon. This arm 3| together with a channel member 33, detachably secured to the arm, as by screws, forms a coin chute 32. One of the flanges defining the coin chute is cut away, as at 34, to form an entrance opening, and the coin inserted through the coin slot l4 drops into this entrance opening 34 and thence, when permitted, passes down between the flanges of the member 33 and is discharged into the till I5. The member 33 .is easily machined in contradistinction to the machining of this somewhat similar arm 3| shown in the above mentioned patent.

For the purpose of preventing the. oscillation of the spindle l9 until a coin has been deposited I provide a pin 35 which projects outward from the plate ID at an upper corner thereof, and pivotally mount upon this pin a detent 31 which, extends over the rear upper face of the arm or coin chute 32. This detent 31 is formed with a downwardly projecting shoulder 38 and this shoulder normally prevents the coin chute 32 from being turned in a clockwise direction so as to prevent the bolt from being retracted by a rotation of the knob, but in order to provide means whereby the coin shall lift this arm and thus release the coin chute and knob, I form the coin chute with a vertically extending slot 39 extending downwardly from the upper end of the arm 3| and an aligned slot 4| in channel member 33, and mount upon the extremity of the detent 31 a downwardly extending plate or finger 40 which, under ordinary circumstances, is disposed at the entranceof the slot 39. Extending through an opening 42 formed in the coin chute is a rod 43 which is illustrated as pivoted at its rearward end upon a pin 44 carried by bolt 2|. The rod for a portion of its length is enlarged, preferably of circular cross section a at 45, but the forward portion of this rod is cut away so that it .is .of reduced, preferably semi-circular cross section along that part 46. This rod is so disposed in the coin chute 32, that is the chamber formed batman the channel member 33 and the arm 3|, that a coin inserted through the opening 34 will rest upon this rod and specifically upon the portion 45 thereof (see Figure 11). As'the :knob spindle I9 is turned in a clockwise direction, the coin chute 32 is carried in a clockwise direction and the coin .acts against the rounded edge face 35 of theplate 43 so as to lift this plate and thus lift the shoulder '38 above the upper extremity of the coin chute. The coin rides against the under face of the plate 40 and li t-ts this plate completely. However, in contrad isti-nction to what is shown in the above mentioned patent, the coin does not drop downwardly during the travel of the coin chute 32 with the bolt 2|, for the coin is sustained on the enlarged portion 45 of the rod '43 as shown in Figure 2, so that if the operator releases his hold on the lmob 20 before opening the door, the coin is not lost from the coin chute and in fact remains in the coin chute until the bolt 2| is pressed inwardly from a normal extended position, independently of movement of the coin chute, as by closing the door and the bevelled face 22 of the bolt riding on keeper K as shown in Figure '7; The fact that the rod 43 is carried by the bolt, and not by the plate I1] is important for it causes the rod, the coin chute,

v and the bolt to move in unison when the bolt is operated by the outside knob 21], and it is only when the coin chute remains inert and the bolt 2| is pressed inward from .its normally extended position or retracted by mechanism accessible at the inside of the door, that the coin is lost as a lifting medium for the detent .31. When the bolt 2| is forced or moved inwardly, independently of the coin chute, the enlarged portion 45 of 'therod 43 moves from beneath the coin, which drops from the coin chute as shown in Figure '12. Also, immediately upon the return of the coin chute 32 to its initial position, the detent '31 again drops down so that its shoulder 38 behind the upper end of the coin chute and it is again impossible to retract the bolt. The rod 43 is pivoted at 44 simply to permit this rod to oscillate slightly and conform to the arcuate movement of the coin chute without in any way impeding the movement of the coin chute or sticking. The pivoting of this rod 43 does away with the necessityof any careful adjustment of this red.

For the purpose of opening the door from the inside, I provide the knob spindle 41 which extends through the bearing lib-this 'knob' spindle being provided with a radially extending-arm 4B engaging with a 'lug 49 extending downwardly from the bolt 2|. It is obvious now that when this knob spindle is rotated, the bolt will be retmcted againstthe action of spring 23.

tween the chute 32 and the coin slot M as shown 7 in Figure 4. In another position ofthe shield, however, the outer end of the shield will be disposed remote from the opening 34 and the slot M So as to permit the entrance of a coin. The shield carries upon its inner face a stud 53 which is in the path of movement of coin chute 32 and on the opposite side of its pivot the shield has a second stud 54 which is in the path of movement of the arm 48.

Now, when the spindle I9 is rotated in a clockwise direction, assuming that a coin has been dropped and the locking devic released, the movement of the chute 32 acting against the stud 53 will cause the shield 52 to oscillate with the chute 32 and this brings the stud 54 in close proximity to the arm 48 (see Figure 4). Instead of depending'on frictional engagement of the shield with the casing II as shown in the Patent 1,534,977, I space the shield slightly from the front |Z"of the casing II and provide a leaf spring 50, supported by the screws 26, the spring having a hump 55 for cooperation with the stud 54. The hump of the spring bearing upon the stud either urges the shield in engagement with the flange of the casing II as shown in Figure 1, or an arm 51 on the shield 52 into engagement with the spindle H! as shown in Figures 2 and 4. For instance, as shown in Figure 1, if the arm 3| is turned clockwise, to retract the bolt, it finally engages stud 53 and swings the shield 52 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4, and is held there by engagement of the hump 55 pressing upon the right hand side of stud 45. However, if the arm 48 is turned clockwise, to retract the bolt, it engages the stud 54 and swings the shield 52, to the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 and the shield is held in engagement with the flange of the cover II by the hump 55 pressing against the under side of stud 54. A normally expanding coil spring 62 is provided as in the Patent 1,534,977 to yieldably urge the arm 3| to the normal position shown in Figure 1, one end of the coil spring being secured to the casing and the I other end bearing upon the arm 3| at its side facing in the direction that spring 23 is located, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The operation of the device will be obvious from what has gone before. When a coin is dropped in the slot I 4, it drops into place between the arm 3| and channel member 33 and rests upon the rod 43. right or in a clockwise direction, this coin acts to lift the detent 31 so that the knob can continue its movement. However, instead of the coin dropping during this retraction of the bolt, it remains in the coin chute until the latter is at or near its normal position shown in Figure 1, and until the bolt 2| is forced in by the keeper K or retracted through use of spindle 41 of the inside knob (not shown in the drawing). Assuming the knob is released, the spring 62 will act upon the arm 3| to rotate the knob to its released position and the spring 23 will act to again project the bolt. When the bolt is shifted to its pro- When the knob is turned to the jected position alter the retraction, the shield 52 is left in place with its upper end between the coin slot l4 and the opening 34, thus preventing the re-insertion of a coin until the spindle 41 is rotated by its knob. When the spindle 41 is rotated, it retracts the bolt and this acts to shift the shield to its normal position and again free the opening of the coin slot.

I claim:

1. In a coin operated lock, a normally projected bolt, a knob spindle, a coin chute constituting an arm on the knob spindle and operatively engaging the bolt to shift same to a retracted position upon rotation of the knob spindle in one direction, the. bolt being shiftable to a retracted position independently of said coin chute and knob spindle, and the upper end of the coin chute being formed toprovide a coin receiving chamber having a coin receiving aperture, the extremity of the chute being slotted, the slot intersecting said chamber, a rod carried by and movable with the bolt, and extending through said chamber, said rod for a portion of its length being of enlarged cross section and forming a support for the coin inserted in said chamber when the bolt and coin chute are moved in unison, and said rod for the remaining portion of its length beingof reduced cross section to permit release of the coin from the coin chute when the bolt is moved to a retracted position independently of thecoin chute, a pivoted detent resting upon the outer end of the coin chute and having a shoulder against which the end of the coin chute normally abuts to prevent movement of the coin chute to retract the bolt, and a finger carried upon the extremity of the detent and extending into the last named slot, the under side of the finger being rounded to ride up over a coin deposited in said chamber to thereby cause the coin to raise the detent and permit retraction of the bolt by operation of the knob spindle and coin chute.

2. In a coin operated lock, a bolt, a knob spindle, a bar-like arm secured to and upstanding with respect to the knob spindle, operatively engaged with the bolt to shift same to a retracted position upon rotation of the knob spindle in one direction, said arm provided with a longitudinally extending slot open at the top end of the arm, a channel member secured to the upper end portion of said arm with its flanges upright and the outer ends of the flanges engaging a face of the am, said channel member provided with a longitudinally extending slot open at its top and aligned with said slot of the arm, and one of the flanges of the channel member provided with a coin entrance opening, the said arm and channel member constituting a coin chute, a pivoted detent extending over the top of the arm and having a shoulder normally in the path of movement of bolt are moved in unison, but retractable from the channel when the bolt is moved independently of movement of said arm.

SHERMAN W. FRAZIER. 

